Bible Reading
- Exodus 10-11
- Psalm 16
Devotional:
Have you ever noticed how different it is to pursue our own pleasures compared to pursuing the pleasure of God? When we pursue our own pleasure, it never satisfies. There is always something more, something better. But, when we give up our own desires and pleasures, there is so much more peace in our life. Have you found that to be true?
In Psalm 16:5 David testified that “you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.” He had found the joy of pursuing God and pleases God. In Psalm 16:4 he said, “Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.” What is the treasure of your heart? (Matt 6:21). What do you pursue that distracts you from seeking after God?
Exodus 7-12 is the story of the plagues and God rescuing His people from the hands of the Egyptians. As I have read this story over the past couple days, I have been thinking about Pharoah’s hard heart . Psalm 16:4 was definitely true in his life. Troubles multiplied for him because he was holding on to what God told Him to let go. Every time he got close to letting go, he would change his mind, and it would result in more trouble for him. Even when his officials begged him to let the people go (Exodus 10:7) he dug his heels in and wouldn’t give them up.
O Lord, what a difference there is between pursuing our own pleasure and pursuing what pleases you. It’s like the difference between how Pharoah experienced the plagues, and what the people of Israel experienced. Exodus 11:6-7 says, “Then a loud wail will rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again. 7 But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark.” When we find you to be our inheritance (Ps 16:5), our Master who gave us everything good in our lives (Ps 16:2), you promise to show us what really living is like.
Jesus said that He came to give us life. But, not just a burdensome, worry, anxious filled life that pursues our own desires. Jesus said He came to give abundant life. (John 10:10). This abundant life is found, not in the pursuit of what we want, but in the giving up of what we want and resting in His will for us. This is the way of life that He wants to give us. And when we live that way, we will have the joy of experiencing His presence and the pleasure of living with Him, not just in the future, but here and now, today! (Ps 16:11)
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